Kolkata’s sweltering summer is giving rise to a cool new trend — a surge in coworking cafés and flexible workspaces that offer more than just air conditioning. With rising temperatures, frequent power cuts, and a growing community of freelancers and hybrid professionals, the city is seeing a shift in how and where people work.

Coworking-friendly cafés are becoming the go-to spots for those seeking comfort, connectivity, and community. “Traditional work boundaries have blurred,” says Natasha Suri, co-founder of CoLAB. “People want inspiring spaces with comfort, community, and privacy — freelancers, creators, teams — everyone’s working together under one roof.”

Spaces like CoLAB are responding with thoughtful upgrades. Suri explains, “We’re introducing happy-hour-style windows with cooling beverages and light bites, especially for our coworking guests.” Beyond refreshments, CoLAB offers fast internet, a wireless colour printer, and a private conference room with a whiteboard — tools remote workers consider essential.

Work is baked into the design at Artsy – Café | Coffee | Culture. “Artsy is designed to be inviting for solo workers and meeting-goers,” says partner Arshdeep Singh. “We have six high seats built for work, free WiFi, and an all-day dining menu.”

Meanwhile, The Red Bari offers its twist on the coworking café model. “We offer iced coffees, teas, and kombuchas for our co-work users. The first drink of the day from our core menu is on us,” says founder Disha Das. “The co-work floor is tucked away to minimise interruptions,” she adds, highlighting the space’s balance between hospitality and productivity.

It’s not just about escaping the heat but finding a new rhythm. “Our café offers not just relief from the heat, but also a sense of community,” says Vinay Manglani, co-founder of Cō. These hybrid environments cater to work styles, from morning heads-down productivity to evening casual networking.

The trend isn’t slowing down. “We’ve seen an uptick in usage compared to last year’s period,” says Suri. And as humidity and outages persist, more people are turning to these hybrid hubs. Prateek Kayan, co-founder of Motherland Café & Studios, notes, “Evenings are busy too, thanks to discounted drinks and a vibrant vibe.”

As Kolkata adapts to a more flexible future of work, these café-coworking crossovers are proving to be more than just a seasonal escape — they’re becoming part of the city’s evolving work culture.